NEW DELHI, Mar 21 (NNN-PTI) – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India today rose to 258, India’s federal health ministry said. “Of these, 219 cases are Indian nationals and 39 foreign nationals.”
On Friday evening, the number was 223.
According to ministry officials, so far, four deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The ministry also said, 23 people have been discharged from hospitals, after showing improvement.
So far, Maharashtra state has reported the highest number of cases, followed by Kerala, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
“The confirmed positive cases in Maharashtra is 49, while in Kerala the number is 33,” the ministry said. “In Delhi, it is 25, while in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, the number is 23 and 15, respectively.”
The government has issued advisories asking people to avoid crowded places and unnecessary foreign travel.
Local governments in most Indian states have closed educational institutions, clubs, cinema halls, gyms, museums, swimming pools until Mar 31, to contain the spread, and major sporting events were cancelled.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced self-imposed public curfew on Sunday (tomorrow).
Modi said, no one should step out of their homes on Sunday from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. local time, except those people in essential services.
The Indian government banned the entry of all international commercial passenger flights from Sunday for one week.
Meanwhile, state-run broadcaster, All India Radio (AIR), said train services across the country will remain suspended from today midnight to 10:00 p.m. local time tomorrow (Sunday).– NNN-PTI
